Friday, March 11, 2016

Following
on yesterday’s post about proximity to the cross, this opening hymnline
from one of my favorite Lenten hymns has a similar theme. After
answering the question “Are we there yet?”, we are drawn within “the
shadow of a mighty rock” and “a home within the wilderness, a rest upon
the way.”

We often steer away from singing this hymn
because in the original text printed in most hymnals, the word “fain” is
used instead of the word “gladly.” When our mind has to stop and wonder
what a word means, we sometimes lose the thought that follows;
therefore, I’m glad that some song books and arrangements are using less
archaic language to help us ‘get it’ without explanation!

I
would have used the word “proudly,” but pride is such a no-no in
church-speak! However, we should be proud to take our stand with Christ
at the foot of his cross, shouldn’t we?!

Taking our
stand for Christ and with Christ is vital for those of us who would be
counted as one of His. Our placement keeps people from second-guessing
who we are and whose we are. In today’s society, that establishment of
our post is key to our vitality as witnesses to “the very dying form of
One who suffered there for me.”

Looking for prime real estate in the Kingdom? Find it beneath the cross of Jesus.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Proximity
is a wonderful thing in any relationship. We never want to be far from
the people we love most. That’s why Hallmark has a whole series of cards
from “across the miles”!

Maintaining a close proximity
to the cross is of great importance to those of us who are
Christ-followers. Many people accessorize with a cross, wearing it daily
as a reminder to themselves that they are inextricably affiliated with
the One whose life and death are represented by two intersecting
straight lines. For many years in my early ministry, I dangled a wooden
cross from my neck so that every time it struck my chest, I was reminded
whose I was… and my minute-by-minute commitment to him.

You
may not ‘wear’ a cross daily, but you need to be prompted to stray not
far from the influence of the cross on your daily decision-making.

Beneath
the cross of Jesus is a good place to keep vigilance, with a watchful
eye to avoid failure and mis-steps. There we can wait… be still… learn
patience. It is also a great vantage point from which to view hope as a
constant under-girder of our faith experience. And is there a better
place to express our trust in Him who redeems us, comforts us, restores
us – yea, even saves us?

In the context of Fanny
Crosby’s text, this hymnline is about watching for, waiting on, hoping
toward, and trusting in the ultimate return of Christ. The following
line says, “till I reach the golden strand just beyond the river.”

I
agree with all that; but it is also the place I watch for God, wait for
him to act, hope that his will is done in my life, and trust that he
will see me through TODAY… whether or not his return is imminent!

Need a change of place? Come over here and stand with me near the cross. Proximity is a wonderful thing.

This
very Jewish text set to a traditional Hebrew melody is included in most
Christian hymnals because we are, in fact, an extension of Judaism.
After all, our founder was himself a Jew!

God’s Word is
well-established. It has stood for many generations as a lamp unto our
feet and a light unto our paths. Its very long-standing nature is one of
its strengths. As commanded, we pass it along to our children’s
children in order that it may maintain its place among believers yet to
come.

The Word of God will stand unshaken when it is
deep-writ upon the hearts of those who love it and follow its precepts. I
love the term “deep-writ”… or deep-written -- chiseled out, engraved,
scribbled in indelible ink, permanently applied to our most-inner self.

I
am reminded of stories from the concentration camps of World War II
when the Bibles of prisoners were taken from them. We’re told that they
would huddle together at night by candlelight and scribble passages of
scripture on scraps of paper and hide them from their captors.
Eventually they had recreated a large number of the most meaningful
verses, many of which reminded them of how God had saved their people
from total destruction… and gave them hope that he might indeed do that
again. For many, that hope became a reality. (Think SHINDLER’S LIST!)

As
a musician, I am drawn to another aspect of that tragic stain upon
human history: they seem to have been able to recall many of these
scriptures from songs they had sung.

However you are
going about it – repetition, memorization, or with anthem texts -
writing the Word of God permanently on your heart and mind is an
important process because there are times when nothing will satisfy or
comfort like drawing upon those remembered verses.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

This hymn text is a bit unusual because it is structured in a way that the singer is speaking to himself/herself. As we sing these words, we are reminding ourselves to praise God, the King of heaven… to acknowledge his greatness (bring tribute).

In THIS line, we remind ourselves that we are the ransomed, the healed, the restored, the forgiven ones – and that we should sing his praises as long as we have breath to do so. Because we sometimes consider our redemption, our healing, our restoration and forgiveness to be in the past, we may not praise him for these anymore. In reality, all these activities of God on our behalf are ongoing; therefore, we need to be more appreciative as part of our continuing praise.

The remainder of the text highlights God’s grace and favor, his faithfulness, and his enduring changeless qualities over against our frail, perishable human nature.

Interestingly, the final stanza turns from this introspective urging as it speaks to the angels and the triumphant saints in heaven, calling on them to praise God because they have the privilege of beholding him face to face.

Okay, it’s time we take up the song, merging our praise with the everlasting “Alleluias” of the ransomed, healed, restored, and forgiven ones who have gone before us and who will come after us. It is up to us to keep the song alive. No pressure!

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

During these weeks of Lent when the worship-focus in most churches is on the cross, it seems appropriate that my post for today takes up that theme, reminding myself and those of you who read these posts that our place is not distant from the cross and the man who hangs there. No, our place is NEAR the cross... in close proximity to the Christ of Calvary.

This was my mother’s favorite hymn. It served her well as a daily prayer for her life, and it continues to minister to me every time I hear it or sing it.

Growing up, I thought she loved it because it was all about the cross and the sacrifice of Christ upon that emblem of suffering and shame. As her life wound down, however, it seemed to me that what she found attractive about this Fanny Crosby text was this closing line of the refrain – its emphasis on “rest.”

In the busy-ness of our lives, this may become one of our great spiritual desires: to slow down long enough to reflect adequately on our lives with uninterrupted introspection. In reality, we might better sing, “Till my WEARY soul finds rest,” or better yet “my hurried LIFE.”

For a semi-retired person, I am way too busy – and much of it still involves ministry, just through different channels than before. And quite frankly, my “hurried life” is seeking some rest. I could use a time-out. How about you? I bet this is a common denominator for most of us.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

O the pure delight of a single hour that before thy throne I spendWhen I kneel in prayer, and with thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend.

There is not a whole lot I can add to that. This hymnline speaks for itself.

Our
understanding of prayer as a communication between friends makes a lot
of difference in how we approach the throne. Prayer is not a duty, it is
a privilege – one that should be cherished and anticipated, much like
we look forward to catching up with our dearest friends. There are no
off-limits subjects, we talk about everything and anything, we are at
ease, there is no sense of tension.

My seminary
roommate and I have talked by phone every Monday for years. It is a
loosely scheduled weekly catching-up time. These sometimes-brief
conversations continue to be a blessing. I’m trying to reshape my prayer
life to be more like my visits with David: just talking to God and
asking him for nothing. Too much of my prayer time is centered around
what I want God to do for me. I’m trying to alter that… or altar that!

Spending
an hour in prayer is probably a stretch for most of us, but whatever
time we carve out to dedicate to dialogue with this great Friend should
be delightful. Some days I may visit with God an hour… five minutes at
time! But those occasional intense, lengthy audiences are the richest
because they yield superior results. O the pure delight…

Hymnlines - Hemlines: Get it?! :)

About Me

A native of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, went to high school with Dolly Parton... and am still friends with her sister Stella who was "most talented" with me in our graduating class of 1967! Was a Southern Baptist for most of my life,am currently affiliated with Cooperative Baptists. Have worked in Baptist and Presbyterian churches - basically consider myself a Baptiterian!

Love words (texts). Am a published hymn-writer, anthem-text writer and composer. Into live theater, museums and antique stores. Enjoy good movies and PBS dramas.

Married to Carlita - Two bonus sons: Dustin,and Clint and his wife Sherry with our two grandsons Kyle and Carson who just happen to live close by!